Expansible turbine-condenser structure



: Mmh 16 1926. 1,576,736

W. B. FLANDERS EXP ANSIBLE TURBINE CONDENSER STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 11, 1920 I 2 Sheets-5heet 1 [VB-P10041206- I NVENTOR ATTORNEY March 16,1926. 1,576,736 w. B. FLANDERS EXPANSIBLE TURBINE coumsu ssn s'rnuc'runn Fil ed Nov.'11, 1920 2 Sheets-Shea 2 Wfiilanders INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 16 1926.

1,576,736 UNITED. sures PATENT OFFICE.

WARREN B. FLANDERS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WEST- INGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

EX'PANSIBLE TURBINE-CONDENSER STRUCTURE.

Application filed November 11, 1920. Serial 1T0. 423,331.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WARREN B. FLANDERS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Philadelphia, in the county of Ph-ila-' delphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Expansible Turbine-Condenser Structures, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to marine turbines,

and more particularly to marine turbines of the double-flow type which take motive fluid near the center and expand it toward both ends, the expanded fluid being discharged into two separate condensers, at either end of the turbine. t

The object of my invention is to provide means whereby a relative longitudinal movement of the condensers may be secured, as the turbine expands, so as to remove the strain on the exhaust connections between the turbine and the condensers.

I attain this object by means of the arrangement illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a plan View of apparatus, .embodying my invention; Figure 2 1s. a sectional View taken along the line II-II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line IIIIII of Figure 1; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the turbine illustrated in Fig. 1' showing the manner of supportlng same Fig. 5 shows a modified form of support for the turbine; and Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 2 showing the arrangement of the condensers as used with the turbine illustrated in Fig. 5.

Briefly speaking, the condensers are arranged for relative movement in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the turbine and means are provided, such, for example, as a steam-filled strut for effecting said movement in accordance with the temperature and consequent degree'of expansion of the turbine casing.

Referring to the drawing for a more de tailed understanding of my invention, I indicate a double-flow turbine at 10 which receives high pressure motive fluid through an inlet 11 and discharges the expanded fluid through two exhaust outlets 12 and 18. The exhaust outlet 12 of theturbine communicates with a condenser le'throu gh 'an exhaust connection 15, and the exhaust outlet 13 of the turbine communicates with a condenser 16 through an exhaust connection 17 One of the condensers, as, for example, the condenser 14, is supported on a braced structural steel framework 18 which holds it rigidly and which prevents motion in a direction parallel to the center line of the turbine. Thecondenser 16 is supported on an unbraced flexible structural steel framework 19 which allows movement of the condenser parallel with the turbine. A cylindrical strut 20, preferably a short section of pipe, is placed between the frames 18 and 19 supporting the condensers 14 and 16 respectively. A steam supply conduit 21 communicates between the interior of the strut 20 and the interior of the turbine at the top of the turbine cylinder, and a drainage conduit 22 communicates between the interior of the bottom of the strut 20 and the interior of the turbine at the bottom of the turbine cylinder.

In a marine turbine installation as herein described, if both condensers are rigidly connected to the foundations, a severe strain is imposed upon the exhaust connections between the turbine and condensers, when the plished by means of the strut 20 between the condensers which receives high pressure motive fluid at its appropriate temperature from the turbine cylinder through the conduit 21, condensate being returned by the conduit 22. This high pressure fluidheats the strut 20 causing it to expand an amount approximately the same as the turbine between the exhaust connections forcing the two condensersl and 16 apart to make up for the increase in length of the turbine cylinder. fThe exhaust connections are therefore put under little or no strain and the turbine cylinder is not distorted.

In my invention, as so far described the j condenser 14 is held rigidly and incapable of longitudinal movement, and the condenser 16 is held flexibly and capable of movement in a direction parallel with the turbine. In this case, the turbine must be rigidly supported at the left as by fixed support 23 and anchor bolts 2l24 securing same to a foundation 25, as shown in Fig. l, and allowed to expand toward the right, provision for same being made by the sliding support 26. It is obvious that my invention need not necessarily be limited to this arrangement alone. The condenser 16 may be fixed and the condenser 14 supported flexibly and the turbine rigidly supported at the right, or the turbine may be rigidly connected'at the center and both the condensers flexibly supported. The latter arrangement is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 wherein the turbine 10 is rigidly supported at the center by a fixed support 27 bolted to the foundation 25 by means of bolts 2828. In this case, the condensers lt and 16 are each supported on unbraced framework 29 and 30.

Care must be taken that the time constants v of the steam-filled strut be the same as that of the turbine casing. Thus if the easing be lagged, the strut should be similarily treated so that the time required for the turbine casing to reach a predetermined temperature is substantially identical with the time required for the strut to reach the same temperature. In this manner, even brief and transitory strains are avoided.

Thus in Figs. 5 and 3 I have indicated the turbine 10 as being lagged, the lagging being broken away for the purpose of illustration, along the left end of the turbine at 33. The strut 20 is indicated as being lagged in a similar manner, the lagging being broken away at the left end at 34.

While I have shown my invention in but two forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. In combination, a double-flow turbine, condensers disposed opposite the exhaust outlets of the turbine, flexible supporting means for one of the condensers, and means for moving said one of the condensers in a direction parallel with the turbine as the turbine cylinder expands.

2. In combination, a doublefiow turbine having an exhaust outlet at each end, a condenser disposed opposite each exhaust outlet, fiexible supporting means for one of the condensers, and means responsive to turbine temperatures for moving said one of the condensers in a direction parallel with the turbine as the turbine cylinder expands.

3. In combination, a double-flow turbine rigidly held to the foundation at one point and having an exhaust outlet at each end, a

condenser disposed opposite each exhaust outlet, one at least being lexibly supported from the foundation and means for effecting a relative movement of the condensers in a direction parallel with the turbine as the turbine cylinder expands.

4-. In combination, a double-flow turbine rigidly held to the foundation at one end and having an exhaust outlet at each end, a condenser disposed opposite the fixed end of the turbine and rigidly connected to the foundation, a condenser disposed opposite the free end of the turbine and flexibly supported from the foundation, and means to cause the condenser flexibly supported from the foundation to move in a direction parallel with the turbine as the turbine cylinder expands.

5. In combination, a double-flow turbine, condensers disposed opposite the exhaust outlets of the turbine, flexible supporting means for at least one of the condensers, a hollow strut disposed between the conden sers, and means to conduct motive fluid to the strut from the turbine to cause the strut to expand, whereby a relative movement of the condensers is effected in a direction parallel with the turbine as the turbine cylinder expands.

6. In combination, a double-flow turbine having an exhaust outlet at each end, a condenser disposed opposite each exhaust outlet, flexible supporting means for at least one of the condensers, a hollow strut disposed between the condensers, and means to conduct motive fluid to the strut from within the turbine to cause the strut to, expand, whereby relative movement between the condensers is effected in a direction parallel with the turbine as the turbine cylinder expands.

7. In combination, a double-flow turbine rigidly held to the foundation at one point and having an exhaust outlet at each end, a condenser disposed opposite each exhaust outlet, one of said condensers being flexibly supported from the foundation, a hollow strut disposed between the condensers, and means to conduct motive fluid to the strut simultaneously with its supply to the furbine to cause the strut to expand, whereby the flexibly supported condenser is caused to move in a direction parallel with the turbine as the turbine cylinder expands.

8. In combination, a double-flow turbine rigidly held to the foundation at one end and having an exhaust outlet at each end, a condenser disposed opposite the fixed end of the turbine and rigidly connected to the foundation, a condenser disposed opposite the free end of the turbine and flexibly supported from the foundation, a hollow strut disposed between the condensers, and means to conduct motive fluid to the strut simultaneously with its supply to the turbine to cause the strut to expand, whereby the condenser flexibly supported from the foundation is caused to move in a direction parallel with the turbine as the turbine cylinder expands.

9. In combination, a double-flow turbine having an exhaust outlet at each end, said turbine being rigidly connected to the foundation at one point, whereby it is' free to expand, a condenser disposed opposite each exhaust outlet, at least one of said condensers being flexibly supported from the foundation, a hollow strut disposed between the condensers, a conduit communicating between the interior of said strut at the bottom thereof and the lower portion of the turbine cylinder, and a conduit communicating be tween the interior of the strut at the top thereof and the upper portion of the turbine cylinder, whereby motive fluid is conducted to the strut to cause it to expand and effect relative movement between the condensers in a direction parallel with the turbine as the turbine cylinder expands, so as to avoid strain on the exhaust connections.

10. In combination, a double flow turbine having spaced exhaust outlets, spaced condensers connected to said outlets, and means for supporting the condensers permitting relative movement thereof in a direction parallel to the turbine axis upon longitudinal expansion of the turbine.

11. In combination, a double flow turbine having spaced exhaust outlets, spaced con densers connected to said outlets, means for supporting the condensers, and means re sponsive to temperature changes in the turbine for effecting a relative movement of the condensers in a direction parallel to the turbine axis.

12. In combination, a double flow turbine having an exhaust outlet at eacih end, a condenser disposed opposite each outlet, flexible supporting means for at least one of the condensers, a hollow strut connecting the two condensers, and means for maintaining the hollow strut at approximately the same temperature as the turbine, whereby as the turbine expands due to temperature changes the strut expands efi'ecting a relative movement of the condensers parallel to the turbine axis.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 8th day of November,

WARREN B. FLANDERS. 

